www.iFourWinns.com

I've read here and the consensus seems to be the best practice is to store your boat with the out-drive down. I've have always done this and especially for the extended off-season storage. Drive down rubber bellows not under compression, not pinched or stretched.

I'm 4 hours from my boat and I have a local shop pick it up and service it in the off season. My boat is in Arizona and stored indoors, very mild winters to extreme heat in the summer.

Today I received a voice mail from my mechanic letting me know he picked up the boat but my out drive had fallen. I panicked thinking he moved the boat without raising the drive but after speaking with him he saw the situation and raised the drive before moving the boat. (Something to remember to talk to your mechanic about if you have your boat serviced without being present).

His statement: "You should store this boat drive up because the rubber bellows if "set" will less likely fail when compressed (lowering the drive), as opposed to being stretched (when raising the drive) after the off season".

Thoughts?

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Jeff
2006 H240 6.2 MX 320HP B3
La Habra, California

I think you'd be hard pressed to find another mechanic who would agree. On the other hand, most mechanics would probably say it doesn't matter either way, since it isn't their boat.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I would find a new mechanic

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Bridgewater, PA
2008 Vista 318

Yep that just does not make sense. If you look at an old bellows, the cracks usually start on the bottom, where it's flexed from the drive being up.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Let say it does "set". I don't see it causing that "much" of a strain on the drive. I have stored my boat in the winter and at the slip with it down. It almost never goes up!! I will say too, in 12 years I have gone though 5 boats. The longest was 4 years with one boat. Never had it replaced, and I am in salt water.

As to the mechanics, if he is good other than this. You may want to keep him.

IHO, do whatever is easiest. Cost of bellows is $30 and you should be pulling the drive annually for at least inspection. If you see the bellows starting to crack, replace.

Cost of someone towing your boat without 1st raising outdrive, ???? could get fairly pricey depending if a prop is on or not, skeg cover is at least $125

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Your mechanic is wrong. When the drive is down the bellows is not fully compressed at any point. It is at neutral if that makes sense. The bellows reaches Max compression and opposite side extension when hard turn to either side or in trailering position. Simple - the unit only pivots upward and turns. On your drive you have the drive bellows, exhaust bellows and shift cable boot. The sfift boot and drive bellows failure will cause u to take on water and have sunk many a boat in the slip.

And if his job is to move and service boats one would expect him to know to check the drive position.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

LET ME ADD, after reading MY own post!! I meant "I never had to replace it because I left it down." Not that I never had to replace it!

I do agree with the past 2 post! I will say that I will not pull the drive off myself. First off, you need the right tools, never done it before (I have rebuilt engines) & a small framed person. I did it once to a Alpha drive!! I do grease it & bring it to the dealer every other year for him to go over. For me, it works out, I learn from him and we work well together. Taking it off once a year is the right thing. I find, if you don't hit anything & baby it, every other year can work out.

Just had new bellows put on boat, and it went right into heated storage for winter, WITH THE DRIVE UP, since it has never been in the water with the new bellows, is it okay to leave up, or should I drop the drive. Bellows were replace 12/15/11. Thanks

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

Are you allowed to quote your own quote?

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

Mark T. Not being ugly but its your boat and u can really store it anyway u wish. Being new rubber is diiferent......really????? Why? Kinda like saying my car has new tires so I like to park it on curbs. Its really simple. The best way to store r boat is with the drive lowered and straight ahead. Does it mean it will fail if u don't....NO, but it does increase the odds. If u change the bellows every year it will not matter cuz it will not crap out on u by then.

Ever wonder why it doesn't come in a crooked box? I too have a mechanic take care of drive service. It is something I don't feel comfortable doing. I chose to service the drive every other year. Fresh water use only and I swap oil yearly in drive and inspect with each use.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

Thanks and down the drive goes !! Give me an excuse to get out of the house and fiddle with the boat some more. Is it worth putting on any of the rubber protectants on the bellows ? I'm guessing not, but thought I'd ask.

Middle of January, and its 50 f*&^@ing degrees here in Northern Indiana. I'd rather it either snow like hell so I'm not tempted to put the boat in. Drove by Lake Michigan yesterday and it was like glass, we even picked out our boat slip in St. Joseph Michigan at Pier 33.

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

Sounds like a good use of winter. No on adding anything to surface. If it wasn't such an ordeal to winterize a quick splash would be tempting here too. Patience and good thing will come. My next task is to get a nice ice chest with cushion for the boat. I also Ned another wakeboard rack for the tower. Boat show tomorrow.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

Well put.



That makes one of us. I'm LOVING this winter. AFAIC it can stay like this until spring.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

It hit 60 degrees here in Long Island yesterday, I did see a couple of boats on the bay. As for me, I took off the summer covers and put on the frame for the winter cover and the winter canvas cover. Not fun but better than doing it when it's 20 degrees out.
We have also had a very mild start to winter but that can't last forever. Started up the Toro single stage and both Jeeps have their snow tires on.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II